European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN)
ECEN was present at the Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu in September 2007. ECEN and the European Catholic Bishops’ Conference (www.ccee.ch) played a prominent role in shaping the environmental dimension of the Assembly including the eco-management and climate change compensation scheme, as well in preparing the Creation Forum.
The final recommendations of the Assembly included a recommendation from the Creation Forum on Creation Time:
New Resource from Fortress Press
In 2010 Fortress Press will release a special edition of the New Proclamation Series focusing on The Season of Creation. This volume will include an introduction, a theology of the liturgy and a detailed analysis of the readings for each Sunday in the 3 year cycle by recognized biblical scholars.
In Canada…
Seasons of the Spirit, based in Canada, will be promoting The Season of Creation in its 2010 issues, providing helpful introductions to the 4 Sundays of the 2010 calendar.
Other resources
Time of Creation has been released by the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) as a dossier of information and resources that is also relevant to The Season of Creation.
A similar resource volume Season of Creation has been released by the South African Faith Communities Environmental Institute and endorsed by the Synod of Bishops of the Anglican Church. Special focus is given to biodiversity, land, water, climate change and stewardship.
News from around the globe
- South Africa.
Ernst Conradie reports that The Anglican Church of Southern Africa has prepared liturgical materials around: God’s Gift of Creation, Land, Water, Climate Change, Need not Greed and Stewardship. For more details contact emconradie@uwc.ac.za - The Philippines.
Georg Ziselsberger continues to be a forceful voice for the promotion of Creation Time/Season of Creation in the Philippines. For details of forthcoming plans contact Georg at geochris@gmx.net - England.
David Shreeve reports that following the endorsement by the Third European Ecumenical Assembly last year the Archbishops of Canterbury and York will be encouraging all parishes in the Church of England to support A Time for God’s Creation. Parishes are being encouraged to choose one Sunday between 1 September and the second Sunday in October on which they will put Creation at the centre of their worship and reflection. Locally, this might be extended to cover a weekend and might be undertaken in co-operation with other churches and, indeed, members of other Abrahamic faiths. A special celebration service with the Bishop of London will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on 14 September. Worship resources for the Time are being produced by Church Together in Britain Ireland and are available on www.ctbi.org.uk For more information contact: david.shreeve@c-of-e.org.uk - Europe.
The ECEN (European Christian Environmental Network) continues to promote the Creation Time, which is equivalent to The Season of Creation and are active in being advocates for creation in both social and political contexts. Isolde Schonstein reports that last year Creation Time was confirmed by The Third Ecumenical Assembly. She adds: It was not easy to achieve this. But our persistence and several private discussions with the Ecumenical Patriach and representatives of the Vatican…finally made an impact!’ For more information contact Isolde Schoenstein at office@argeschoepfung.at - USA and Canada.
Adapted versions of the Season of Creation are being celebrated in various parts of the USA and Canada. Moves are under way to publish a volume with preaching and worship materials for the Sundays of the Season of Creation. For more information contact drhoads@lstc.edu - Australia.
Celebration of The season of Creation continues to spread across denominations. In 2010 a new alternative Natural Disaster Series has been introduced. For more information contact nhabel@esc.net.au. - A number of churches have agreed to go solar as a genuinely responsible way of working toward restoring the green dimension of the planet. In Adelaide Solar Churches SA represents a group seeking ways to make solar energy available to their communities and pressing the government to go beyond carbon trading to actually reducing the carbon emissions that are polluting our planet, changing our climate, destroying species and rapidly increasing poverty in many parts of the world. For more information contact Ian Hunter at ian.anna.hunter@gmail.com.
- A new resource ‘Greening the Church: Australian Churches tell their inspirational stories’ is now available. This is a collection of nearly thirty churches who have responded to the environmental crisis in some way. For a copy, dowload it here or contact: cath.james@victas.uca.org.au
- Churches or communities who have celebrated or promoted The Season of Creation in a special way or in a new area are invited to contact me so that we may include your developments on our website. Norman Habel – nhabel@esc.net.au